The tax levy is the total amount of money Union County needs to collect from homeowners to pay for all the services it provides each year. This includes things like keeping parks clean, fixing roads, and paying for public safety. Every year, Union County makes a budget, which is a plan for how much money they will need and what they will spend it on. Once the budget is ready, the county figures out how much each town, like Clark, needs to pay. This total amount is called the tax levy. The tax levy is shared among all the property owners in the town based on how much their property is worth. It makes sure there’s enough money to pay for important services that everyone in the county uses. It’s like everyone pitching in to make sure the community has what it needs to work well.
Year-by-Year Tax Levy Changes
The Union County tax levy has increased by $1,571,374 or 12% since 2014 and has trended downward recently decreasing by about 3% since 2018.
| Year | Tax Levy ($) | % Increase |
|---|---|---|
| 2024* | 14,000,000 | 0.26% |
| 2023 | 13,964,081 | -1.73% |
| 2022 | 14,210,443 | -2.28% |
| 2021 | 14,542,557 | 1.11% |
| 2020 | 14,382,280 | 0.29% |
| 2019 | 14,340,413 | -0.76% |
| 2018 | 14,450,883 | 2.40% |
| 2017 | 14,112,402 | 3.00% |
| 2016 | 13,701,211 | 5.94% |
| 2015 | 12,933,328 | 4.06% |
| 2014 | 12,428,626 | – |
*2024 value is an estimation by town of Clark in proposed budget
These numbers come from the clark township web site at: https://ourclark.com/153/Finance-Department
Home Values
Every house in Clark has a value, which is how much the house might sell for. The local tax assessor guesses this value by looking at things like the size of the house, its condition, and what other homes nearby are selling for. This guessed value is called the “assessed value.” The assessed value is important because it helps decide how much tax each homeowner has to pay. If your house is worth more, you’ll pay more in taxes because your house is a bigger part of the total value of all the homes in Clark. The goal is to make sure everyone pays their fair share based on how much their property is worth.
The Value Ratio
Sometimes, the assessed value of homes in Clark might not match their real market value, which is what they’d actually sell for. To make sure taxes are fair, New Jersey uses something called a value ratio, or “equalization ratio.” This ratio adjusts the assessed values to make them closer to the real market values. It helps keep the tax system fair by making sure that all homes are valued correctly. For example, if homes in Clark are assessed for less than they’d sell for, the ratio will adjust their values up. This way, homeowners still pay taxes based on the real value of their homes.
Open Space Charges
Besides regular taxes, there’s also an open space tax. This is a small extra tax used to buy and take care of parks and natural areas. These places let people enjoy nature, play sports, and relax. The open space tax makes sure there are green areas for everyone to enjoy, which helps make Clark a nicer place to live. The money from the open space tax can only be used for taking care of parks and nature areas. It can’t be used for anything else. This helps protect these areas for future generations. By paying this small tax, people in Clark are helping to keep their community beautiful.
What the County Does with the Taxes
Union County uses the tax money to provide important services. These include public safety, like the sheriff’s department and emergency services, which help keep people safe. Taxes also pay for health services that help people with medical problems or who need support. The county also takes care of parks, recreation centers, and activities for everyone to enjoy. Taxes help fix and maintain roads, bridges, and other things we use to travel. Libraries and cultural programs also get funding, supporting learning and fun activities for everyone in the community.
